. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo 江戸の名所 .
. Asakusa densetsu 浅草伝説 Legends from Asakusa .
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Asakusa 浅草 district in Edo
台東区元浅草 Taido ward, Moto-Asakusa and others
The Chinese characters can be read in two ways
asa kusa 浅草 asakusa (Japanese reading)
sen soo, sensō 浅草 senso (Chinese reading)
. Asakusa Kannon 浅草観音 - Temple 浅草寺 Senso-Ji, Asakusadera .
- Introduction -
"Edo, Asakusa Fair"
. Kuramae 蔵前 / 倉前 Kuramae district, 浅草御蔵 Asakusa Kuramae .
. Taitoo, Taitō 台東区 Taito Ward .
Asakusa and Asakusabashi are sub-districts of this ward.
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The Origin of Asakusa
During the Jomon era, Asakusa was under the sea. They say it came over the sea in the Yayoi era.
By the way, what is the place name"Asakusa" based on? According to the historical materials of Tokyo-fu, "the name Asakusa came from little grass, meaning that there was little grass in the area in Musashino region where weeds overrun. Thus the sandy banks of river Sumidagawa were easily ready for construction works and dwellings.
This is the common theory.
When we are requested to tell some story about Asakusa, we will tell about "Sensouji temple".
- source : asakusaimahan.co.jp-
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Asakusa at night - 1932
Ishiwata Koitsu (1897-1987)
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What does Asakusa mean? Asakusa (Low Grass)
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The areas that preserve this place name today are:
浅草 Asakusa -- Asakusa
浅草橋 Asakusabashi -- Asakusa Bridge
西浅草 Nishi-Asakusa -- West Asakusa
元浅草 Moto-Asakusa -- Old Asakusa
However, it should be noted that an 浅草区 Asakusa-ku Asakusa Ward existed from 1878-1947. At that time, the places called Asakusa increased. After 1947, the number of Asakusa place names decreased dramatically until what is today considered is Asakusa is defined by little more than a train station here or there and a few vestigial postal addresses. But some 江戸っ子 Edokko 3rd generation Tōkyōites might consider some nearby neighborhoods as Asakusa, when technically they are not.
The Story So Far
The beginnings are purely mythical. In 628, some brothers were fishing in the 宮戸側川 Miyato-gawa Miyato River[iii] and – surprise, surprise – they caught a statue of 観音 Kan’non the goddess of mercy in their fishing nets. The brothers enshrined the statue in their home and kept it for private worship. It’s interesting to note, that this year, 628, just happened to be the same year as the death of 推古天皇 Suiko Tennō Empress Suiko, whose reign had seen great encouragement of Buddhism. This time in general is seen as a tipping point for the broader acceptance of Buddhism in Japan.
In 645,
having been shared with the local villagers from time to time, the statue was made into a 秘仏 hibutsu, image of Buddha hidden from the public. Then a proper temple was established.
Both dates, 628 and 645, are considered the founding of Asakusa-dera or Sensō-ji (we don’t know which pronunciation was prevalent at the time). Also both dates would still earn it the title of the oldest temple in Edo-Tōkyō. It seems that by 942, the first 雷門 kaminari mon thunder gate had been established, although in a different location.
From here on out we will see a dichotomy between
Asakusa (the area) and Sensō-ji (the temple).
Remember, all of this is preserved in the legends and records of the temple itself. There doesn’t seem to be any corroborating evidence elsewhere. In fact, the area isn’t recorded by non-temple sources until around 1266. At that time it is mentioned in a Kamakura Period text called the 吾妻鏡 Azuma Kagami Mirror of the West.
The common understanding is
that the temple was founded on a small plateau on the west bank of the Sumida River. A 門前町 monzenchō / monzenmachi formed around the temple precinct and continued growing from that time. Because of the town’s location on the Sumida River, which was good for trading, the town not only prospered, but attracted the best craftsmen of the region. Temple records indicate thriving trade between the Kamakura area and this region.
Legend has it
that when 源頼朝 Minamoto no Yoritomo Minamoto Yoritomo chose Kamakura as his capital (thus establishing the first of the 3 great shōgunates), he couldn’t find sufficiently skilled craftsmen in the area. On one occasion, he camped along the Sumida River near Asakusa. He visited the temple, as one does, and was so impressed with the builders that he hired them to come to Kamakura to build 鶴岡八幡宮 Tsuru-ga-oka Hachiman-gū which is still one of Kamakura’s grandest shrines. It’s said that trade between Asakusa and Kamakura was so intense that by the time the shōgunate collapsed, many of Kamakura’s merchants and artisans had relocated to Asakusa.
Temple and shrine building wasn’t a big deal in the Sengoku Period, but carpentry and building skills were definitely in demand. It’s not hard to imagine some of the craftsmen of Asakusa being hired to help the Toshima, the Hōjō, the Edo Clan, or even crazy ol’ Ōta Dōkan in their building efforts.
Prior to the Edo Period,
Asakusa was just a prosperous temple town on the river. But with the coming of the Tokugawa, everything changed. Urban sprawl from nearby by Chiyoda/Edo soon brought the area under the influence of the shōgun’s capital at such an early stage that Edo Period people and modern Tōkyōites generally just considered the area to have been part of Edo since time immemorial – even though for most of its existence, Asakusa was a separate town from the hamlet of Edo.
The temple
came under a particularly special patronage by the shōgun family because the head priest of Zōjō-ji had claimed that Asakusa Kan’non was the strongest deity in the Kantō area and that she had served Minamoto Yoritomo well. Tokugawa Ieyasu believed this deity helped him achieve total victory at the Battle of Sekigahara and as such it received great honors from the shōgunal family. While the temple was endowed by Edo’s most elite, its main mission was catering to the common people – a brilliant PR move on both Ieyasu and the temple’s parts[xii]. The temple has always been important to the commoners of Edo-Tōkyō.
In 1657,
after the Meireki Fire burned Edo down to the fucking ground, the licensed pleasure quarters called Yoshiwara was relocated from Nihonbashi to the area north of Asakusa because this was just a northern suburb at the time. Remember, we’re only 57 years into the Edo Period, son. Anyways, this transformed the area from just a pilgrimage spot to a proper tourist destination. And not just any old tourist destination; a tourist destination with a happy ending – if you know what I mean.
As lively as the area had become, its fame was only getting greater. In the 1840’s, after some crack downs on unlicensed kabuki theaters[xiv], the three prominent licensed kabuki theaters were forced to relocated to the Asakusa area. The area’s reputation as a center of nightlife was already secured, but adding popular theater to the area guaranteed this legacy for several more generations.
In the Meiji Era,
kabuki received imperial patronage and the underground kabuki theaters were as legit as the formerly licensed ones. Soon cinemas opened up in the area which showcased a foreign art form that the Japanese immediately became infatuated with. The area was now a bigger destination than ever; home to one of Tōkyō’s grandest temples and a vibrant theater district. Nearby Yoshiwara was still going off like crazy. Until WWII, Asakusa and Yoshiwara defined nightlife Japanese style.
It should be noted that in the Meiji Period, the temple lands were made into a park, naturally called 浅草公園 Asakusa Kōen Asakusa Park. The area was not unlike modern 上野公園 Ueno Kōen Ueno Park. The centerpiece of the park was Sensō-ji, but the real attractions were the theaters, cinemas, izakaya, and pleasure quarter overflow.
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What’s the Etymology?
The etymology of Asakusa has been researched by people since the Kamakura Period[xviii] and people have been coming across the same roadblock every time.
浅草寺 Asakusa-dera - 浅草寺 Sensō-ji
Same Kanji, Different Readings
Asakusa-dera is the native Japanese reading. This reading is plainer than the Chinese reading, Sensō-ji.
As most of the major Buddhist teachings came to Japan via China, the Chinese reading would be more prestigious – more in touch with this new foreign and exotic religion.
There are no written records
to support this but common sense would lead one to the conclusion that the name Asakusa is the older name – it most likely predates the temple. Once a proper temple was built and Chinese learning was imported, the temple assumed the local name but used the Chinese reading. So 浅草 asa kusa became 浅草 sen sō in the Chinese reading. The village continued to use its native Japanese name.
Today the area is still called Asakusa, even though the temple is called Sensō-ji.
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- source : Marky Star
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Asakusa Hachiman Jinja 浅草八幡神社 Hachiman Shrines in Asakusa
西浅草八幡神社 Nishi Asakusa Hachiman Jinja
八幡神社は江戸時代当地域にあった田島山誓願寺が宇佐八幡宮の御神霊分神を勧請して元禄13年（1700）に創建された。 昔は田島町といってその氏子区域は、現在の西浅草二丁目の東町会と西町会の2町会のみです。
隣接する北側の芝崎と南側の西浅草一丁目は三社の氏子区域です。
- source, more photos : rekishi-roman.jp -
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. Asakusa Abekawachoo 阿部川町 Abekawacho, Abekawa machi .
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source : project.lib.keio.ac.jp...
Evening View of Asakusabashi Bridge / 浅草橋夕景
井上安治 Inoue Yasuharu
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Asakusabashi 浅草橋
The district is traditionally known for many wholesale stores, and recently known for its large stores selling traditional Japanese dolls (although some of the largest doll stores, such as Kyugetsu and Shugetsu, are located across Edo-dori avenue, thus belonging to the Yanagibashi neighborhood), or packaging materials, and it hosts a very large concentration of beads stores.
The Ryuhoku campus of the Lycée Franco-Japonais de Tokyo (Franco-Japanese High School of Tokyo) is also located in this neighborhood.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !
Hiroshige - 広重 「浅草川大川端宮戸川」
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Asakusa Hanakawadochoo 花川戸町 Hanakawado machi
Since the beginning of the Edo period a lot of merchants lived in this area. The main road was the beginning of the Ōshū Kaidō 奥州街道 Oshu Kaido main route leading to Tohoku. It was lined with tea stalls and entertainment etablissements.
hana 花 referes to the cherry blossoms
kawa 川 is the Sumidagawa river and do 戸 refers to the many houses that could be seen from the river among the cherry blossoms.
One famous resident of Hanakawado was
. Banzuin Chobei 幡随院長兵衛 Chobei of Bandzuin . - (1622–1657)
who led of a band of machi-yakko street toughs to fight against injustice.
Kuhonji 光照山九品寺 Kuhon-Ji
台東区花川戸2-11-13 / Kuhon-ji Temple, 2 chome 11-13, Hanakawado
The temple was founded in 1598. During the Great Meireki fire in 1657 a statue of a seated Amida Buddha was erected to pray for the souls of the many dead people. The statue sits on a lotus podestal with engravings of the names of the people who contributed.
- source : asakusanioideyo.com -
- - - - - 九品寺大仏 Daibutsu Great Buddha from Kuhon-Ji
Another famous statue of the temple :
- - - - - . kutsubaki Jizo son 沓履地蔵尊 Jizo Bosatsu wearing shoes .
In Hanakawado there lived many craftsmen making straw sandals and other kinds of shoes (hakimono 履物). Even now there are more than 70 dealers in this district.
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Hanakawado Hakidaore-ichi Shoe Market 花川戸はきだおれ市
Hanakawado wholesale district in Taito-ku
Every year the Hanakawado wholesale district in Taito-ku, assemble up to 40 retailers and wholesalers stalls to line-up around Hanakawado Park to sell a wide-range of products. From footwear to handbags, accessories, leather goods, scarves, hats, and more. All the items at the market are sold at bargain prices.
- source : tokyocheapo.com -
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. Hanakawado no Sukeroku 花川戸助六 - Kabuki Play .
Monument of Sukeroku Inscribed with Ichikawa Danjuro's Poem
Remains of Uba-ga-ike (Ubagaike Pond)
Hanakawado park, 2 chome 4-15, Hanakawado
Ureshi-no-mori Inari
1 chome 15-13, Hanakawado
Yamanoshuku no Watashi Ferry
Sumida park, 1 chome 1, Hanakawado
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Asakusa Heiemonchoo 平右衛門町 Heiemon machi
At the confluence of the rivers Sumidagawa and Kandagawa. It is named after
村田平右衛門守勝 Murata Heiemon Morikatsu.
When Tokugawa Ieyasu came to Edo in 1590, Heiemon came with him from Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. He also followed Ieyasu on the visits to temple Senso-Ji 浅草寺 and was then ordered to built a town here. In 1616 he had finished his own machiya 町家 "town house" and the district was named after him.
Heiemon helped with the official planning of the town of Edo and was involved in the building of bridges too.
source : kiyoto-midori.blog.so-net
The true Edoites called the main road
Asakusa Saemonchoo 浅草左衛門町
Others say it is a pun with right 右 and left 左 of the road from the Asakusa gate toward the river.
- source : city.taito.lg.jp -
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Asakusa Kaminarimon 雷門 Kaminarimon district
- 一丁目、二丁目 first and second sub-district
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. Kuramae 蔵前 "before the store houses" .
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Asakusa Tame 浅草溜（あさくさため）/ （あさくさだめ） Asakusadame
A place behind the Asakusa temple where ill and dying prisoners had to find their last rest.
It was abolished in 1699.
. rooyashiki 牢屋敷 prison .
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Asakusa Tanboo 浅草田圃（あさくさたんぼ) Asakusa Tambo "fields"
A space between Asakusa temple and the old Yoshiwara district.
Asakusa Rice Fields and Torinomachi Festival (Asakusa tanbo Torinomachi mode)
Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川 広重
- Photos -
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Asakusa Tawarachoo 田原町 Tawara machi, Tawaramachi
This district of former fields (tahara 田原 ) belonged to the compound of Senso-Ji. The fields were turned to human settlements from first to third 丁目 Chome.
It was also called kamisukichoo 紙漉町 Paper Making District / kamisukichoo かみすき丁 / 紙すき町.
The paper made here is the Asakusagami 浅草紙 Paper from Asakusa.
..... the very first Paper factory in Edo tha was here and prosperd from the late 17th Century through the 19th Century.
- source : tokyotaito.blog.shinobi.jp -
. sukikaeshi, suki-kasehi 漉き返し業者 recycled paper from Asakusa .
Asakusagami to hiyakashi
The third Chome of Tawaracho ended in front of the Kaminarimon gate of the temple, so this street was very lively with all kinds of entertainment business.
Asakusa hirokooji 浅草広小路
Chayamachi 茶屋町 -
Residence of . Chaya Shirōjirō 茶屋四郎次郎 Chaya Shirojiro .
. chaya 茶屋 tea shop, tea stall and their side business .
Dakotsu nagaya 蛇骨長屋 (bones of a huge serpent have been found here)
Hettsui yokochoo へっつい横丁 / 竈横丁 (craftsmen making hearths (kamado) lived here)
Tomogire nagaya 朋切長屋 (naming unclear)
Gensui yokocho 源水横丁 (where the famous street performer 松井源水 Matsui Gensui worked)
. kyokugoma, kyoku-goma 曲独楽 acrobatics with spinning tops .
The Matsui Gensui Family history.
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The Nori Seaweed shop of Nakayamaya Heizaemon 中島屋平左衛門
中島屋平左衛門 - - - Nakajimaya Heizaëmon, Nakajima Heiemon or Nakajima Hirazaemon.
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Advertisement for the Culinary Seaweed Shop of Nakajimaya Heiemon, Official Purveyor to the Tôeizan Temple, at Asakusa Tahara-machi sanchôme, on the North Side (Tôeizan goyô, gozen nori dokoro, Asakusa Tahara-machi sanchôme kitagawa, Nakajimaya Heiemon)
東叡山御用 御膳海苔所 浅草田原町三丁目北側 中島屋平左衛門
by Katsushika Hokusai
- source : mfa.org/collections -
. Asakusa nori 浅草海苔 Seaweed Past and Present - Introduction .
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. Yamabushi cho 牛込山伏町 Ushigome Yamabushi district .
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The Torinomachi Pilgrimage in Asakusa
Asakusa Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival
浅草田甫酉の町詣
Asakusa tanbo Torinomachi mode
Utagawa Hiroshige
- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -
浅草や一厄おとす寺参り
Asakusa ya hito yaku otosu tera mairi
my dear Asakusa -
to cast off old impurities
I visit the temple
Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶
. yakuotoshi, yaku otoshi 厄落 Casting off the Old Impurities and Sins .
. WKD : Asakusa 浅草 .
- - kigo for all seasons - -
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. Asakusa densetsu 浅草伝説 Legends from Asakusa .
. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo 江戸の名所 .
. - Doing Business in Edo - 商売 - Introduction .
. senryu, senryū 川柳 Senryu poems in Edo .
. densetsu 伝説 Japanese Legends - Introduction .
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- - - - - #asakusa #asakusaedo #tawara #heiemon #hanawakado #abekawa #kaminarimon #miyatogawa - - - -
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